Four new beginners’ running groups have been set up across Norfolk for people wanting to get into shape in the new year.

Four new beginners running groups have been set up across Norfolk for people wanting to get into shape in the new year. Picture: Ian Burt

Groups in Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Attleborough will start in January, and will run for periods of between 6 to 10 weeks, costing £1 to 2 per session.

Active Norfolk said that in 2017, two beginners’ running groups, aimed at adults who were generally inactive in Norfolk, saw unprecedented levels of success with participant numbers increasing each week.

By the end of the course, the majority of participants completed a 5km race.

Active Norfolk said most of the runners admitted it would have been an unthinkable achievement when they first signed onto the course.

One runner, Tracy, who attended the This Girl Can running group at City Academy in Norwich in 2017 said: “I saw this advertised so came along. It’s the first experience of running I’ve done at all so I was a bit nervous.

“But the group’s great they are so friendly and inclusive.”

Tracy now regularly takes part in weekly 5km Park Run events in Norwich.

Double Olympic runner and Active Norfolk project officer, Paul Evans, said: “We’ve been blown away by the popularity of these beginners running groups and it’s great when you come down here to see everyone taking an interest in their own health and fitness and making friends at the same time.

“It’s because the ones we put on last year were so well-attended that we wanted to offer more of the same in different areas of the county.”